Israel strikes Gaza’s only Catholic church that Pope Francis used to call every night
An Israeli military strike yesterday hit the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City, killing three people and injuring at least ten others, including the parish priest. The church, the only Catholic place of worship in the besieged enclave, had been sheltering hundreds of Palestinians when it was struck.
Farid Jubran, spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said the origin of the munition was unclear. It was not known whether the attack came from an aircraft or a tank. The blast sent shrapnel and debris flying across the compound, where families, children and people with disabilities had been taking refuge amid ongoing Israeli bombardment.
Among the dead were Saad Salameh, a 60-year-old janitor at the church, Fumayya Ayyad, an 84-year-old woman receiving psychological support in a Caritas tent, and Najwa Abu Daoud, 69, who was seated nearby. The Catholic charity Caritas Internationalis said the victims had simply been trying to survive in a place they thought would be safe.
The parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, was injured while trying to help a wounded young man struck by shrapnel. Witnesses said Romanelli had rushed to assist the man but was hurt in the process. Footage from the hospital showed him with a bandaged leg but able to walk. Romanelli, an Argentinian who has ministered in Gaza for nearly three decades, had been receiving nightly calls from Pope Francis until the pontiff’s death in April. The calls began shortly after the outbreak of the war last October.
The attack also damaged parts of the church compound, which had come under fire previously during the conflict. In December 2023, two women sheltering inside were shot and killed by an Israeli sniper, according to the patriarchate.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, said the church was struck directly by a tank shell. In an interview with Vatican News, he said the building had clearly been targeted, contradicting Israel’s initial claims that the hit was accidental.
The Israeli government responded with an unusual expression of regret. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that a stray munition had struck the church and that every innocent life lost was a tragedy. It said Israel shared in the grief of the affected families and added that an investigation was underway.
The Israeli military echoed that sentiment, saying it was aware of the reports and that it made every feasible effort to avoid harm to civilians and religious sites. It added that the incident was under review.
In Washington, President Donald Trump expressed displeasure during a call with Netanyahu. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had conveyed “not a positive reaction” to the church bombing.
The Vatican also condemned the attack. Pope Leo XIV, through a message sent by the Secretary of State, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and injuries caused by what he described as a military assault. He urged an immediate ceasefire and prayed for the recovery of the wounded and comfort for the bereaved.
The incident drew international criticism. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Israel’s ongoing strikes on Gaza were unacceptable, adding that military operations could not justify attacks on civilians or religious sanctuaries.
The humanitarian impact continues to grow. Dozens more Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip yesterday, including four in the Zeitoun area near Imam al-Shafi’i school. The Holy Family church reported that several of the wounded were in critical condition.
Efforts to reach a new ceasefire have stalled, despite renewed talks backed by the United States. Over 58,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began with a Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which left 1,200 Israelis dead. Since the collapse of the last truce in March, more than 7,750 Palestinians have died, with recent days alone accounting for around 100 deaths.
Negotiators have focused on Israel’s possible withdrawal from the Morag Corridor, a key military zone established in southern Gaza to isolate Hamas. While there were signs of possible Israeli flexibility, no breakthrough has yet been achieved.
Alistair Dutton, secretary general of Caritas Internationalis, captured the sense of anguish surrounding the church attack, saying: “Their deaths are a painful reminder of the appalling conditions that civilians and medical personnel are living in under siege. We grieve the lives lost and call on all parties to respect the sacredness of life and the spaces that protect it.”
Middle East